Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Aluminum Cast Alloy A356 reinforced with Dual-Size B4C Particles

The paper details the studies carried out on a dual-size particulate composite prepared by stir casting using A 356 aluminum alloy and B4C powders. Three composite compositions, viz., A356 plus 2% B4C (44µm size and 105µm size in 1:1 ratio), 4% B4C (3:1 ratio), and 6% B4C (1:3 ratio) were cast in finger molds, from which test specimens were prepared for hardness and tensile tests as well as for metallography. Vickers hardness tests, tensile tests and microstructure analysis using an optical microscope were conducted. The results obtained indicated that the B4C particles were evenly distributed in the alloy matrix. EDS also revealed the presence of B4C in all the three composites. In general, the hardness and tensile strengths increased with increase in concentration B4C powders. While the increase in hardness was increases less than 15%, there was significant increase (more than 35 %) in tensile strength. However, the ductility represented by % elongation, which was already very low in A 356 cast alloy (24.2%,), further decreased in composites. Tensile fractography results shows inter crystalline fracture where the breakage in the B4C particle instead of deboning were observed.

Modification Effect of Nanometre Zirconia on Ca-PSZ Ceramics

The modified calcium oxide partially stabilized zirconia ceramics were fabricated using ZrO2 powder as raw materials, CaO as stabilizer, and nanometre zirconia as modification agent. The relationship between additive amount of nanometre zirconia and the performance of Ca-PSZ ceramics were researched via testing the physical properties, analyzing mineral phase composition, and observing microstructure of the samples. The results show that the introduction of nanometre zirconia powder has a significant effect on the physical properties of Ca-PSZ, with an addition of 8wt%, bulk density was up to 5.08 g/cm3, and the compressive strength reached 381 MPa. Compared with the unmodified Ca-PSZ sample, the porosity of the modified Ca-PSZ samples decreased by 40%, and the compressive strength increased by 70%. The introduction of nanometre zirconia has an inhibitory effect on the abnormal growth of zirconia grains and improves the densification of the Ca-PSZ ceramics. Through the formation of intragranular structure, nanometre zirconia can induce transgranular fracture and weaken crystalline fracture, thereby increasing the strength of the Ca-PSZ ceramics.

Microstructure and Microhardness of Ti6Al4V Alloy Treated by GTAW SiC Alloying

Microstructure and Microhardness of Ti6Al4V Alloy Treated by GTAW SiC Alloying In this work, the change of the structure and microhardness of Ti6Al4V titanium alloy after remelting and remelting with SiC alloing by electric arc welding (GTAW method) was studied. The current intensity equal 100 A and fixed scan speed rate equal 0,2 m/min has been used to remelting surface of the alloy. Change of structure were investigated by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Microhardness test showed, that the remelting of the surface does not change the hardness of the alloy. Treated by GTAW SiC alloying leads to the formation of hard (570 HV0, 1) surface layer with a thickness of 2 mm. The resulting surface layer is characterized by diverse morphology alloyed zone. The fracture of alloy after conventional heat treatment, similarly to fracture after remelting with GTAW is characterized by extremely fine dimples of plastic deformation. In the alloyed specimens the intergranular and crystalline fracture was identified.

Sintering of High-Strength Dense Al2O3 Using Rod-Like Submicron Al2O3 as Sintering Aid

Rod-like submicron Al2O3 powder was prepared by the controllable hydrolyzation of aluminium isopropoxide in streams atmosphere. XRD data show the rod-like Al2O3 has a γ- Al2O3 structure. TEM images display the length of the submicron Al2O3 is in the range of 100-300 nm and the slenderness ratio is above 10. The rod-like Al2O3 powder was added into the submicron Al2O3 (D50 = 0.5 μm, purity > 99.99%) to increase the bending strength of the sintered body and to decrease the sintering temperature. SEM images display that the Al2O3 sintered at 1450 °C with rod-like Al2O3 added has a higher density than the virgin Al2O3 and the Al2O3 grains have the trans-crystalline fracture. The bending strength of the sintered Al2O3 with 5 wt% rod-like Al2O3 added is 205 MPa, which increases 241%. A sharp shrinkage in 1300-1400 °C appeared in the sintering shrinkage curves characterized by DIL show the rod-like Al2O3 also acts as the sintering aid.

Crystal growth and the role of the organic network in eggshell biomineralization

A model based on geometrical crystal growth considerations is proposed for the deposition of the crocodilian, testudinian and avian eggshells. Ir each shell column, crystal deposition is initiated at a single location, from which growth fans out at all angles to the shell normal. In both co1citic and aragonitic shells, growth is in the [001] direction, resulting in an increase in the degree of (001) preferred orientation with distance from nucleation. Where there is unhindered crystal growth, the shells show a crystalline fracture morphology, and the degree of texture that develops is a simple function of the column radius. This type of growth makes up the whole of the testudinian shell, the inner 0.3-0.4 (30-40 %) of the thick ratite shells and the cone layer of the other avian shells. At the start of the palisade layer of the avian shell, the onset of deposition of the organic component coincides with a hindrance to texture development, which thereafter proceeds at a lower rate. A further hindrance occurs about halfway through the shell, probably caused by a change in the physical characteristics of the organic network. The degree of texture that develops in the avian shell is a function of the column radius and the degree of physical hindrance presented by the organic network. The palisade layer of the avian shell has a composite fracture morphology resulting from the intermingling of the network with the inorganic phase.The organic component does not appear to control crystal growth, as previously believed, but instead acts as a reinforcing fibrous network.